Cigarette package holder and opener



July 18, 1933.

D. ELLIOTT CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER AND OPENER Filed Feb. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l I nueninr A Home y y 1933- D. ELLIOTT CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER AND OPENER Filed Feb. 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 'lIIIlkf Iq /IIII A Home y Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES DAVID ELLIGTT, 0F JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER AND OJPENER Application filed February 17, 1932. Serial No. 593,662. g

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette package holders, and more particularly to a combination package opener and holder.

The primary object of the invention resides in a holder for slidably receiving a package of cigarettes to preserve the shape of the package and prevent crushing of the contents during carrying of the same in the pocket of the user. Furthermore, means is provided whereby the wrapper of the package may be cut for opening purposes during the sliding of the package into the holder without fear of damaging the cigarettes.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient means for opening a package of cigarettes and for holding the same when opened until the contents of the package have been exhausted whereupon the empty package wrapper may be removed and a fresh package substituted therefor.

Vith these and other objects in view, the

invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my invention looking at oneside of the device as showing a package of cigarettes contained therein.

Figure 2 is a similar view but looking atthe opposite side of the device. V

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view looking in the direction of the top end of the casing with the package of cigarettes removed therefrom. 1

Figure 4 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4.& of Figure 1.

Figure 0 is a detail. vertical longitudinal in the form of my invention shown in Figures 6 and 7.

' Figure 9 is a. fragmentary sectional perspective view of a further modified form.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through a further modification. r

V Figure 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through a further modified form.

Figure 13 is a detail vertical transverse sec-' tional view on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.. 7

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a rectangular shaped casing which may be constructed of precious metal or other. rigid material and which is provided with an open side wall 11 of a size to slidably permit a standard size cigarette package 12 to be inserted therethrough and into the casing 10. The opposite side wall of the casing is provided with inwardly extending flanges 13 which serve to limit the inward sliding movement of the package 12 into the casing or holder, but if desired, the wall opposite the opening 11 may be fully closed. However, it is preferred to have the same substantially open to reduce the weight of the casing 10.

The front wall of the casing 10- is cut away from the top edge as at 14:, while the top wall is cutrearwardly as at 15 whereby the cut out portions 1 1- and 15 communicate to provide an opening through which the cigarettes contained within the casing 10 maybe removed. An L-shaped closure mem-- her or door 16 is hinged at the end of the cut away portion 14- as at 1?, and is adapted to be swung to a closed position to liefiush with the front. and top walls of theicasing. A releasable catch 18 is provided for securing he door 16 in a closed position.

The rear wall of the casing 10 isprovided with au'opening 19 into which the finger ormumb of a person may be inserted fol-push,- ing cigarettes forward toward the opening after the first row of cigarettes is removed.

The construction so far described is present in all of the forms of my invention herein shown, and like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout.

In the form of my "invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, Iprovide an elongated piercing member 20. which isprovided with attaching flanges 21 at one end which areriveted or otherwise secured to the top wall of the casing as at 22.. The opposite end of the piercing member 20 is pointedasat 28 and terminates adjacent the open side 11 of the casin 10. The piercing member '20 is l .05 l l disposed. in spaced relation with respect to the top wall of the casing and is located approximately midway between the front and rear sides of the said casing.

Also fixedly supported by the top wall of the casing is a cutting blade or knife 24 which is provided with attaching flanges which are screwed or bolted to thetop of the casing as at 26. The knife blade24 is disposed parallel with respect to the piercing member and is positioned to one side thereof as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. This knife blade is located adjacent the open side 11 of the casing 10.

From the description of the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 to inclusive, it will be seen that when a package of cigarettes 12 is inserted through the open side 11 of the casing 10, the pointed em 23 of the piercing member 20 will penetrate the end wall of the wrapping of the cigarette pack- 7 age at a point above the top end of the cigthe same bythe user when desired.

arettes contained within the lack-age. The piercing member 20 is threaded through the package for the full length thereof and as the package rides onto the shank of the member 20 after having been piercedby the pointed end 23, thetop portion of the wrapper of the package is lifted as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. iVith the top of the wrapper lifted away from the cigarettes, the cutting knife 24 will cut or slit the wrapping without coming in contact with the cigarettes wnich will of course tend to damage the same. When the package 12 has been fully inserted a slit extends the length of the package on the top wall thereof. insertion of the package the operator swings the closure member 16 to an open position and proceeds to tear away a portionof the package wrapping of an area equal to the size of the cut away portions 14 and 15. This exposes the cigarettes at the cut away portions 14 and 15 to enable the removal of y swinging the door'lG to a closed position the contents of the cigarette package may be kept in pressed condition.

Although the friction between the package 12 and the inner walls of the casing 10 may be sufficient to retain the package 12 within the casin I provide a door 27 for closing a portion of the open side 11 and which door is hinged to the rear wall of the casing as at 28 and is held closed by a catch or teet 29. This door also serves to protect possible injury to the hand of a user as it acts as a guard for the pointed end 23 of the piercing member 20.

In Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention wherein a piercing member 30 is provided and which has attaching flanges Slat one end thereof for attachment to the top wall of the casinglO. Formed integral with the After shankof the piercing member 30 is a cutting this form. however, the )iercin member is disposed to one side of the longitudinal centor of the top wall of the casing as best seen in Figure T of the drz wings.

in Figure 9 of the drawings ,l have illustrated a further modification wherein cutting knji res 23 are lined to the front and rear walls of the casing 10 and which blades extend inwardly from the front and rear walls of the casing 10 and are disposed substantially parallel with respect to the top wall of the easing. These cut ing knives arelocatcd as to slit opposite sides of the cigarette package above the top ends of the cigarettes during the insertion of the package into the casing. by cntt' gthe top corners of the package, the n'tire top may be torn free, or only that per- 011 exposed by the cut away portions 14 and 3 of the casing.

In Figures 10 and lief the drawi still further modified form is shown \vl .ein a'pi'crcing membe 34 is provided and which is similar to those hereinbefore explained with the exception that it is flattened or widened adjacent the pointed end as at 35, and which portion is provided with a slot Journaled in bearings 37 formed on the top wall of the casing is a stub shaft 38 onwhich a disc knife 39 is. turnablymounted, andwhich disc extends through the slot 36. A guard asing 40 is fixedly secured to the top of the casing I 10 for protecting the knife blade against contact with the hands of the user. The action performed in this instance is the same as that hereinbefore explained, as the piercing member 34 tends to lift the wrapping of the package away from the cigarettes to enable the knife disc 39 to perform the slitting or cutting operation. 5

In Figures 12'and 13 a still further modilied form is shown wherein a springactuated depressible plunger 41 is mounted on the top of the casing 10 and the lower or inner end of the plunger is engageable with a flat resilient spring 42 which is fixedlysecured on the inside of the casing as at 43. .The

free end of the member 42 is bent downwardly and is formed with a cutting edge or blade 44 which is adapted to penetrate one of the upper corners of the cigarette package during the insertion of the package into the casing 10. The spring pressed plunger 41 isnormally' held in a retracted position at which time the knife blade 44 assumes an inoperative cutting position, but by depressing the plunger 41 to the position shown in full lines in Figures'12 and 13, the knife blade is disposed within the patch of the cigarette package 12 during its insertion into the cascom risin a casin havin an 0 enin there- 7 in through which a package of cigarettes may be inserted, means within said casing for lifting the wrapping of an inserted cigarette package away from the contents thereof, and knife means within said casing adapted to cut the side of a package lifted by said means.

2. A cigarette package holder and opener comprising a casing having an opening therein through which a package of cigarettes is adapted to be slidably inserted, an elongated piercing element carried by said casing in spaced relation to the top 'wall thereof, and a cutting element carried by said casing and extending inwardly thereof and disposed adjacent said opening. 7

3. A cigarette package holder and opener i comprising a casing having an opening therein through whlch a package of cigarettes is adapted to be shdably inserted, an elongated piercing element carried bysaid casing in spaced relation tothe top wall thereof, a cutting element carried by said casing and extending inwardly thereof and disposed adjacent said opening, and a door for closing said opening to retain a'package of cigarettes in said casmg.

4. A. cigarette package holder comprlsmg a casing open at one side for facilitating the insertion of a package of cigarettes thereinto, a door for closing a portion of said open side, the top and one of the side walls of said casing being cut away to provide an opening therein for facilitating access to the cigarettes of a package inserted in said casing, and a closure member for closing said last mentioned opening and another opening in the casing for facilitating movement of the cigarettes to the last-mentioned opening.

5. A-combination cigarette package opener and holder comprising a casing having an opening therein through which a package of cigarettes may be inserted, a pointed member fixedly secured to said casing and extending parallel and in spaced relation to the top wall thereof with its pointed end terminating adjacentsaid opening, and a cutting element extending inwardly from said casing and disposed adjacent the open side of said casing.

DAVID ELLIOTT. 

